Shaikh Abd al-Qadir al-Jilani (c. 470 AH / 1077 CE – 560 AH / 1166 CE) occupies a singular position in the history of Islamic spirituality and Sufism. His full name was Muḥyi al-Din Abu Muḥammad ʿAbd al-Qadir ibn Abi Ṣaliḥ Musa al-Jilani. Genealogically, he descended from both the Hasanid and Husaynid lineages of the Prophet’s family, and for this reason, he is revered as al-Ghawth al-Aʿẓam — “the Supreme Helper.” Born in Jilan, Persia (modern-day Iran), he pursued early studies there. He later travelled to Baghdad, the intellectual capital of the Muslim world, where he mastered jurisprudence, Hadith, Quranic exegesis, and logic. His ascetic devotion and profound scholarship soon made him an object of deep veneration in Baghdad.

Al-Jīlānī’s teachings represent a harmonious synthesis of Shariʿah (the sacred law) and Ṭariqah (the spiritual path). He emphasized that true Sufism must remain grounded in the Qur’an and the Sunnah, warning that mystical experience divorced from revealed law leads to error. For him, worship was not mere ritual performance but the inner presence of the heart before God. In his doctrine, tawakkul (trust in God), ikhlaṣ (sincerity), dhikr (remembrance), muraqabah (meditative awareness), and love for the Prophet ﷺ formed the essence of the spiritual life. His khanqah in Baghdad became a vibrant center of learning and spiritual refinement, attracting seekers from distant regions.

Shaikh al-Jilani’s scholarly legacy is vast and influential. His writings encompass jurisprudence, ethics, theology, and mystical philosophy. Among the principal works attributed to him — many of which are preserved on the Rekhta digital library — are Ghunyat al-Ṭalibin, Awrad-e-Qadiriyyah, Diwan-e-Ghaus-e-Aʿẓam, Sirr al-Asrar, al-Fatḥ al-Rabbani wa al-Fayḍ al-Raḥmani, and Fatuḥ al-Ghayb. Ghunyat al-Ṭalibin is an encyclopedic manual combining jurisprudence and ascetic instruction; Sirr al-Asrar provides concise guidance for the spiritual traveller, while Fatuḥ al-Ghayb elaborates the stages of self-purification and proximity to God. These works reveal his intellectual rigor and his effort to reconcile the exoteric and esoteric dimensions of Islam.

Scholarly analyses of his writings demonstrate that Shaikh al-Jīlānī purified Sufism of speculative excesses, grounding it in scriptural orthodoxy. His works integrate intellect, revelation, and spiritual experience into a coherent vision of faith and moral conduct. Although some texts and anecdotes attributed to him invite critical verification, his authentic corpus remains a cornerstone of Sunni mysticism.

At the heart of his message lies servitude to God, moral integrity, and divine gnosis. For al-Jilani, sainthood signified humility and service, not miracle-working or power. Even today, his shrine in Baghdad stands as a living symbol of spiritual continuity. His life and thought constitute not merely a legacy of the past but a timeless spiritual discourse guiding humanity toward truth, sincerity, and the remembrance of God.